When a United Reformed Church is the only church in a village

1. In a few villages the United Reformed Church is the only place where publicworship is regularly offered although it should be remembered that the village will always lie within one, or occasionally two, Church of England parishes. This fact means that hospitality to other churches is less simple for churches other than the Church of England.

2. Within the village there may be Christians of different traditions, some of whom try to combine loyalty to a particular denomination with their desire to worship and witness in their local community. Sometimes a church of another denomination has been closed, sometimes people from another denomination have moved into the village, sometimes those who previously commuted to a church outside the village are prevented from doing so through infirmity or poor public transport.

3. While the local church remains subject to the jurisdiction of the United Reformed Church and has a duty to bear witness to the riches of its traditions, it is able in a variety of ways to make members of other churches feel they belong to the Christian community in that village. This sense of belonging may not be the same as becoming a member of that local church. Some churches do not permit their members to become members of another church and some individuals may feel their sense of denominational identity is such that they are unable or unwilling to make the necessary promises and commitments required by the United Reformed Church.

4. The local church may, nonetheless, seek to recognise and affirm the breadth of religious experience and expression such regular worshippers bring by introducing elements from their traditions into its worship and life. Some of the means to such ecumenical broadening of the life of the local church might be:

choice of hymns, tunes, hymn books

prayers for the other churches

careful use of language which does not exclude

offering the use of the church to the other traditions

inviting ministers/lay preachers/readers of the other churches to lead worship

occasional use of the other churches' liturgies and ways of celebrating communion

consultation between those from the other churches in the area who have pastoral oversight about the responsibility for pastoral care in that village, and for Christian initiation and nurture of the Christians there

involvement in the life of the wider church through Churches Together groupings

5. The local church may wish to formalise and ensure the continuity of this ecumenically enriched life by agreeing a ‘Declaration of Ecumenical Welcome and Commitment’. Before doing so it should consult with the District Council and then seek advice from the Intermediate Body or its Ecumenical Officer as to which other denominations should be consulted and at what level. The Declaration must be endorsed by the neighbouring churches and care needs to be taken over the real over the real or imagined effect on the congregational strength of these churches so that this is not seen as ‘poaching’. A copy of the Declaration should be displayed in the church.

An example of such a Declaration is attached.

DECLARATION OF ECUMENICAL WELCOME

We, the congregation of Aford United Reformed Church, are aware that we are the only church offering regular public worship in Aford: and therefore we invite all Christians in Aford to play as full a part as they are able in our life and fellowship.

to contribute financially to Aford URC in so far as their continued giving to another church will allow.

We undertake

to give pastoral care to all those who desire it

to incorporate the riches from the worship of other traditions as appropriate

to invite ministers and lay preachers of other churches to take part in leading worship

to consult with neighbouring churches concerning the mission of the church in Aford

to include this Ecumenical Declaration in the pastorate profile of this church.

Following the decision made by Churches Together in Ashire (our 'Intermediate Body') on........ 199X that such declarations may be made in the area which they serve, we have sought and followed their advice as to which churches should first be consulted, and those mentioned below have given us their blessing and encouragement.

for Aford United Reformed Church Minister ……………………………….

Church Secretary ……………………….

for the other churches……………………………………………..

[1] The Church Meeting may invite other persons who regularly worship with the local church but whose names are not on the membership roll to attend and speak at its meetings but no such person shall have the right to vote.